The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Big Mine planning money also awarded
The town of Crested Butte is the beneficiary of two major Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grants that will result in new town tennis courts and a master plan for the Big Mine Park area.
GOCO awarded the town $191,227 for revitalized tennis courts. Local tennis lovers helped raise $40,000 in private donations through the 40 Love fundraising campaign. The town will contribute $25,000 to the project in matching funds.
The building project will start this September. “Town crews will be doing the majority of the prep work,” explained Crested Butte town manager Todd Crossett. “We are hoping to get the majority of the concrete work done this fall, which will depend upon availability of contractors. The contractor would then return in late spring, as weather permits, to apply the finished surface.
“If we are successful in hitting our September start date, we should have people playing tennis in time for our summer season next year—mid-June to early July,” he continued.
The three new courts will be a definite upgrade over the 35-year-old courts at the Four-Way Stop. According to Crossett, “The new ones will be a post-tensioned concrete overlay system constructed over the top of the existing courts. The project will also address grade/drainage issues and include a shelter and landscaping.”
The town’s tennis programs have increased 157 percent in the last five years.
GOCO also awarded the town money to plan the Big Mine Park area. “The GOCO board also approved a $60,000 grant to develop a master plan for the Big Mine complex,” Crossett said.
Newly hired Parks and Recreation director Janna Hansen will take a lead with that process. She replaced Jake Jones, who had applied for both grants. Also helping with the master plan will be new Crested Butte town planner Michael Yerman.
“We are moving on getting the tennis court project launched first as we are constrained on that project by construction seasons,” said Crossett. “So the planning project will likely start this fall.”
